From Trauma to Triumph

A CAMPAIGN FOR KIDS-TALK DETROIT

Every child who walks through the doors of Kids-TALK deserves safety, dignity, and a path toward healing.

Through the From Trauma to Triumph campaign, The Guidance Center is expanding Kids-TALK’s ability to serve children and families across Wayne County at the moment they need us most.

Every year in Wayne County, approximately 6,000 child abuse and/or neglect cases are verified. When these allegations involve sexual abuse or severe physical abuse, Kids-TALK is there to serve as a vital component of the investigative process, and more importantly, as an advocate for the child and family.

The Kids-TALK Children’s Advocacy Center was established 25 years ago through the vision and determination of Lynda Baker and Nancy J. Diehl, who co-authored a Skillman Foundation grant with the Wayne County Prosecutor’s Office serving as fiduciary. United by a deep conviction that children who had endured the unspeakable deserved better care, Lynda and Nancy set out to create a more compassionate and coordinated response.

Today, Kids-TALK is a program of The Guidance Center, one of Michigan’s largest human service agencies providing comprehensive behavioral health and community outreach services. By combining The Guidance Center’s wide-ranging services, high quality care and dedicated staff with Kids-TALK’s child-centered programming, the children who walk through the Kids-TALK doors are surrounded by the support they need to heal from their trauma.

What We Need

Kids-TALK was founded with a focused mission to serve children from birth through age 12 who were victims of alleged sexual abuse. As our community’s needs evolved, so did our responsibility to respond. To better meet those needs, we expanded our scope to include youth through age 17, children impacted by severe physical abuse and neglect, and children who witnessed violent crimes such as homicide.

Consequently, we undertook a study of our facility needs and learned that the space required to meet the growing demand at our Detroit location is approximately 25,000–35,000 square feet; nearly three times the size of our current building. By expanding to this size, we will be able to provide children with the critical services they need within 3 days of their disclosure, which is the standard best practice for children’s advocacy centers.

The steady and significant growth in the number of children we serve is also a reflection of the trust our professional partners and broader community have in Kids-TALK and the CAC model. As the coordination and collaboration among law enforcement, children’s protective services, prosecution, medical, mental health, and advocacy professionals has strengthened, so too has the recognition that this unified, child-focused approach works.

Kids-TALK CAC operates on a $3.4 million annual budget, with federal Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) funding accounting for 34% and state funding accounting for additional 20%. As the largest CAC in the state, the Kids-TALK program is already stretching the funds we receive as far as possible. However, because we serve the largest number of children, our dollars don’t go as far as other CACs in Michigan and our children should not have to wait three weeks to be seen.

Why the Kids-TALK Model Matters

Without a CAC, a child may have to retell their story multiple times to multiple systems.

With the Kids-TALK CAC, law enforcement, child protection, medical providers, prosecutors, advocates, and therapists coordinate around the child so the child only has to tell their story once.

A Community-Led Campaign

From civic leaders and public officials to business, philanthropic, and community partners, this campaign is guided by leaders who believe Wayne County’s children deserve a safer and stronger path forward.

HONORARY COMMITTEE

Our Vision

Join Us

To help us realize our vision and ensure that more children are able to move from trauma to triumph, we are looking to the community for financial support. By joining with us and supporting Kids-TALK, you will have a long-lasting impact on the lives of children in our community. The children of Wayne County—including Detroit, Downriver, Western Wayne and the east side—deserve more. They deserve better. And with your help, we can and will ensure that they are given a path toward a bright and happy future.

Contact Us

Alexander Sebastian Senior Director of Philanthropy & Communications asebastian@guidance-center.org 734-785-7727

Liesa Finazzo Director of Individual Giving & Special Campaigns lfinazzo@guidance-center.org 734-785-7705 x7203

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